This iconic oil painting depicts a turbulent, stylized night sky filled with luminous, swirling patterns. A large, crescent moon glows intensely in the upper right corner, surrounded by radiant stars that appear as bursting circles of yellow and white light. Dominating the left foreground is a massive, dark, flame-like cypress tree that reaches upward, acting as a visual anchor against the expansive, celestial movement.
Beneath the dynamic sky, a serene village rests in the valley. The architecture, including a small church with a pointed steeple, is rendered in subdued, dark tones, providing a quiet contrast to the intensity above. Rolling, dark blue hills stretch across the horizon, separating the earth from the cosmic display. The composition relies heavily on the juxtaposition between the verticality of the cypress tree and the horizontal expanse of the rolling landscape.
The colour palette is dominated by deep blues, indigos, and violets, representing the quiet of the night, while brilliant yellows and golds highlight the moon and stars. The artist's signature thick, expressive brushstrokes, known as impasto, create a sense of vibrating energy and motion throughout the entire canvas. This famous Post-Impressionist work captures a dreamlike, emotional interpretation of the night, characterized by its rhythmic, swirling lines and high-contrast light.